Coloring photographs



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

DAVID BAKER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

COLORING PHOTOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,132, dated March 8, 1898. Application filed July 6, 1897. Serial No. 648,659. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residingin Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Processes of Producing PhotoPaintings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in processes of producing photo-paintings.

The object of my invention is to produce a photo-painting which shall have combined therein the accuracy and detail of the photograph with the enlivening effect of an oilpainting.

In practicing my improved process transparent positives, preferably carbon on glass, are used, the coloring oil-pigments being applied to the film side of the positive and suitable coatings of transparent material being applied to the rear of the carbon image and in front of the coloring-pigments. The coating next the carbon image is neutral with respect to its action upon the gelatin film of the positive, and the next coating, which is superposed upon the first, is one which is neutral in its effect upon the first coating and also neutral with respect to the coloring-pigments. A photo-paintin g made in accordance with the principles of my invention is very durable and is very artistic in effect.

The following is a description of the manner in which my invention is carried into effeet:

A transparent positive image, preferably carbon on glass or other suitable transparent material, is first made from a photographic negative in the ordinary manner of preparing such positives. A coating of white or transparent varnish which is neutral in its effect upon the gelatin film of the carbon image is then applied to the rear of the film. Such a neutral varnish I have found in Sandarac, Adamantine, or Champion varnishes. Upon this coating of neutral varnish I then apply another coating of a varnish which shall be neutral to and which will protect and preserve the brilliancy of the oil-pigments. For such a coating I have found Soehnee Freres French Retouching Varnish to be a very desirable one. After the second coating has become thoroughly dry the coloring-pigments are applied to the rear of the last coating,

such colors being applied to such parts of the image as are found in the corresponding parts of the original of which the image is a reproduction. After the coloring-pigments are sufficiently dry apply a thick coat of pure asphaltum, which when dry makes a hard airtight covering for the oil-pigments. I have found that in order to make photo-paintings which shall be lasting and will not become discolored in time the gelatin of the carbon film must be perfectly protected from the oil-pigments, and the oil-pigments must also be protected from the action of the gel atin-protectin g coating, so that its luster and brilliancy will be preserved. This end is accomplished by inserting the two coatings between the film and the coloring-pigments, the one next the gelatin being neutral to it and the coating next the coloring-pigments being neutral with respect thereto and the two coatings being neutral to each other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. In photography, the process of producing a photo-painting consisting in first fixing a photographic image in a sensitized film mounted upon a transparent base, then applying a neutral coating upon the rear of the film, then applying a second coating upon the first which is neutral to oil-pigments, and then applying coloring-pigments to the rear of the second coating, substantially as described.

2. In photography, the process of producing a photo-painting consisting in first preparing a photographic image in a gelatin film, then applying to the film a coating neutral in its effect upon the gelatin, then applying a second coating upon the first which is neutral to the first coating and also neutral to oil-pigments, then applying oil coloring-pigments to the second coating and finally applying a protective air-excluding coating to the rear of the coloring-pigments, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID BAKER.

\Vitnesses:

WARREN D. HoUsE, I. E. CLARKE. 

